11 December, 2019

Work starts on new Vic Rd medical centre

Construction has started on a large new medical centre on the site of the former BNZ building in central Devonport.

General-practice company OmniHealth has secured resource and building consents for work on the building at 20 to 22 Victoria Rd. Demolition of some of the internal structures, such as a stairway, has already begun.

OmniHealth runs joint-venture partnerships with doctors

Chief executive Mark Wills says the new Devonport Health Centre will open by mid-2020 at the latest.

Six local GPs will move into the centre, along with two others returning from overseas. The local GPs, some of whom are shareholders in the new centre, are: Grant Smith, Erica Lauder, Chris Dominick, Sarah English, Stella Goulart and Sally Rushworth.

Smith, Goulart and Rushworth are currently at the Anne St Medical practice, which will move into the new centre, but carry on using its premises in Anne St for administration staff until the lease there runs out on 1 October, 2020.

Dominick, English and Lauder will move to the new centre from the Devonport Medical Centre on Lake Rd.

It is believed the Lake Rd building, near  the corner of Old lake Rd, and formerly owned by Dominick, has been sold  to interests associated with Medplus at Hauraki Corner. Medplus directors did not return calls from the Flagstaff. 

 Recruitment for the new centre has begun, with Dale Te Iwimate employed as practice manager, and head nurse, Eraina Harbour, coming across from Anne St Medical.

As well as eight GPs, the practice will have nurses and healthcare assistants, a pharmacy and possibly a radiology provider.

The building will have 16 roof-top car parks.

The centre will offer extended hours, meaning patients can see a doctor outside work hours.

Having a larger practice makes it easier for GPs to work flexible hours and take holidays, Wills says.

This article originally appeared in the 13 December edition of the Devonport Flagstaff. Download PDF.